Nottingham Man Sentenced for Violent Domestic Assaults
Andrew Gray, a 43-year-old man from Nottingham, has been jailed after carrying out two brutal assaults on a woman while under the influence of alcohol. The attacks occurred shortly after Gray was released from prison, where he had served a full six-year sentence for a previous robbery conviction.
Details of the Violent Incidents
Nottingham Crown Court heard that the first assault took place on May 30 last year at the victim's home in Nottingham. Gray began arguing with the woman after she returned from a memorial service for her father. He followed her upstairs and launched a violent attack, grabbing her by the hair, slamming her head against the walls, and pushing her to the floor. The victim reported that Gray stamped on her ribs and face, causing her to lose consciousness.
Following the assault, Gray refused to allow the woman to seek medical attention at a hospital. Instead, he used Sellotape to cover the wounds he had inflicted and instructed her not to disclose the incident to anyone.
Second Attack and Victim Impact
A month later, on June 30, Gray assaulted the same woman again after both had been drinking vodka. During this incident, he kicked her several times in the stomach and face before fleeing the scene. In her victim impact statement, the woman described living in constant fear, suffering from nightmares, and comparing Gray to "the Incredible Hulk" due to his violent behavior.
The victim is currently working with Nottingham City Council to find a safe place to stay, highlighting the ongoing trauma and disruption caused by the attacks.
Sentencing and Legal Proceedings
Judge Philip Head sentenced Gray to two years and nine months in prison, citing the "dreadful violence" and a pattern of alcohol-fueled aggression. The judge emphasized that Gray's actions represented a gross abuse of the victim's hospitality, as she had provided him with shelter after his release from prison.
Gray, of Abercarn Way in Bulwell, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. He has a criminal record comprising 45 previous offences, including a 2018 robbery where he threatened a woman with a machete in her home while her young child watched, as well as two other domestic violence incidents.
Mitigation and Restraining Order
In mitigation, defense lawyer Lucky Thandi noted that Gray has been on remand for the past eight months and has a supportive family and friends. She acknowledged his long-standing struggle with alcohol abuse, stating that his behavior is the primary obstacle to rehabilitation.
In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Head imposed a three-and-a-half-year restraining order to protect the victim from further contact with Gray.
